Intern doctors' strike at Rajshahi Medical College leaves patients in distress

Intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital have begun an indefinite work abstention, pressing six demands and leaving patients in distress. Around 220 intern doctors staged a sit-in in front of the hospital's main gate on Sunday morning, June 7.

The strike, under the banner of the RMCH Intern Doctors' Council, is part of a nationwide programme. The protesters demanded immediate implementation of their six-point charter, including increased monthly allowances, raising the age limit for BCS entry, and abolition of the compulsory two-year internship at upazila health complexes.

The key demands include raising intern doctors' monthly allowance to Tk 30,000, scrapping the compulsory two-year internship at upazila health complexes, and raising the age limit for BCS recruitment to 34 years.

Although the strike raised concerns about disruption to healthcare services, hospital authorities have made special arrangements to keep patient services running under the direct supervision of professors and associate professors.

However, the strike has put additional pressure on various departments of the hospital, according to sources.

The intern doctors have been holding various programmes for weeks over their demands. Following the call of the Intern Doctors' Forum, an indefinite strike began simultaneously at government and private hospitals across the country on Sunday, with protesters vowing to continue until their demands are met.